Portable steering mechanism for hoop mobile



"Oct. 27, 1970 v. L. THOMPSON 3,535,820

PORTABLE STEERING MECHANISM FOR HOOP MOBILE Filed June 18, 1968 ATTORNEY 1 3,535,820 Unlted States Patent cc meme,

3,535,820 PORTABLE STEERING MECHANISM FOR HOOP MOBILE Virley L. Thompson, 72 Baruch Drive, Apt. 10E, New York, N.Y. 10002 Filed June 18, 1968, Ser. No. 738,044 Int. Cl. A63h 33/02 US. Cl. 46-220 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable steering mechanism for a hoop mobile consisting of a handle of suitable length and preferably tapered, provided at its smaller diameter end with a stiff heavy wire formed as a U-shaped loop with a substantial end portion of the integral arm support securely embedded within the tapered handle. The U-shaped loop lies in a plane normal to the axis of the integral arm support and the handle. The other arm of the U-shaped loop terminated in an eye. The hoop mobile which is a rolling play hoop is placed in the U-shaped loop and is engaged by the bight portion thereof to be manipulated in its rolling movement by selected controlling movements of the handle hold in the hand of the operator or child. If desired, there may be utilized on the bight portion of the U-shaped loop a freely rotating roller, and on each of the arms of the U-shaped loop there may be mounted a plurality of freely rotating balls.

This invention relates to a hoop mobile or rolling play hoop and has for its primary object the provision of a portable hand held handle having a guiding U-shaped loop at its forward end which straddles the loop for controlling the direction of rolling of the hoop.

Another object of this invention is to form the handle tapered and provided in the smaller diameter end of the handle a stiff wire element axially embedded therein in a manner such as to be securely attached to the handle, the wire element extending axially outwardly therefrom and providing a support arm.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide at the forward terminal end of the support arm an integral U- shaped loop lying in a plane normal to the axis of the support arm and handle, one arm of the U-shaped loop constituting a bent over portion at the forward terminal end of the support arm and the other arm of the U-shaped loop being parallel thereto and terminating at its upper free end in an eye. both arms of the U-shaped loop being substantially of the same length and with the bight portion straight.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a freely rotating roller on the bight portion of the U-shaped loop, and a plurality of freely rotating balls on each of the arms of the Ushaped loop.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in certain new and useful constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, clearly described in the following specification, and fully illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hoop mobile steering handle.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the handle at its forward end partly in cross section showing the connection thereto of the wire support arm and U-shaped loop.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3, FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial detail front view of a further moditied form of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawing, there is shown in FIG. 1 a complete steering handle 10 for a hoop mobile or rolling play hoop comprising a bandle 12, an arm support 14 and a guiding hoop receiving U-shaped loop or stirrup 16. The handle 12 is formed of any suitable material, preferably plastic, and is tapered as shown toward its forward end 17, the larger diameter end of the handle 12 being provided with a knob 18. The handle 12 is at least 14 inches in length with the larger diameter end (at knob 18), 1 inch in diameter and with the forward smaller diameter end inch in diameter.

Axially embedded within the forward end portion at handle 12 for at least 6 inches as at 20 is a stiff heavy wire support arm 22 that extends axially forwardly from the terminal end 17 of the handle 12 for any desired distance. The inner terminal end of embedded portion 20 of support arm 22 is preferably headed or flanged as at 24 so as to securely retain support arm 22 in fixed position with respect to handle 12 and to preclude axial withdrawal of the same.

Provided at the terminal outer end of support arm 22 is the U-shaped loop or stirrup 16 formed integral therewith by being bent over (in the manner shown) for forming one arm 26 of the loop or stirrup 16. The remaining portions of the loop or stirrup 16 consists of a straight bight portion 27 and an arm 28 parallel to arm 26, and terminating in an eye 29 that preferably lies inside of the loop or stirrup, as seen in FIG. 1. In this location, the eye 29 will act as a limit stop to prevent dropping or separation of the U-shaped loop or stirrup from off of the hoop when the latter is loacted adjacent to arm 28. If desired, the eye 29 may be of a size such that the hoop will have to be forced within the confines of the arms 26, 28. Both arms 26, 28 of the loop or stirrup 16 are substantially of the same length and in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the support arm 22 and handle 12.

In the use of the steering handle 10 the hoop (not shown) is placed within the loop or stirrup 16 so as to lie on the bight portion 27 thereof, the handle 10 being suitably held in the hand of the operator or child rolling the hoop. The hoop will freely roll between the loop or stirrup arms 26, 28 generally free of contact therewith and engagement of the side of the hoop by one or the other of the loop or stirrup arms 26, 28 by appropriate movement of the handle 10 (while the hoop is rolling) will impart the desired directional movement to the hoop to effect steering thereof. In the rolling of the hoop the same need not be in engagement with the bight portion 27. The rolling of the hoop can be stopped by simply raising the handle 10 to lift the hoop off the ground or by bringing bight portion 27 into contact with the hoop and pulling the handle 10 back.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a modified form of construction wherein the loop or stirrup 16 is provided on its bight portion 27 with a freely rotating cylindrical roller 30 formed of plastic or any other suitable material and preferably provided from its center towards its ends with opposite spiral grooves 31, 32. Mounted on each of the loop or stirrup arms 26, 28 is a pair of freely rotatable balls 34, 36 also of plastic or any other suitable material. The roller 30, and balls 34, 36 serve as antifriction bearings and will not impede the rolling action of the hoop (shown in dotted line 38) when lying within the loop or stirrup 16 should the hoop engage either one of the arms or the bight portion. This may either be intentional or unintentional.

In the modification of FIG. 5, the freely rotating roller 40 is seen to have a double taper, tapering from its center toward each end. The hoop 42 is seen disposed at the center large diameter of the roller 40. The roller 40 is also provided with oppositely directed grooves 31, 32. The side arms 26, 28 may or may not be provided with the freely 3 rotating balls 34, 36 of FIG. 4. The roller 40 is formed of plastic or any other suitable material, and both rollers 30 and 40 are of less length than the loop or stirrup bight portion 27.

What is claimed is:

1. A steering handle for a rolling hoop comprising:

(a) a long straight forwardly tapered handle member formed of plastic material,

(b) a stiff straight metal Wire arm support of substantially shorter length than said handle member extending axially from the smaller tapered end of the handle member,

(c) a substantial length of said wire arm support extending axially within said handle member and embedded therein,

(d) an enlarged headed flange formed on the inner terminal end of the wire arm support embedded within said handle member to prevent axial withdrawal of the arm support from its handle member,

(e) a first lateral leg integral with the lower terminal end of the wire arm support extending, in the operative position of the steering handle, horizontally and normal to the axis of the arm support,

(f) a vertical leg integral with the first lateral leg, normal thereto and depending downwardly therefrom,

(g) a second lateral leg integral with the lower end of the vertical leg, parallel to the first lateral leg and having its free terminal end vertically spaced from the terminal end of the wire arm support, and

(h) an upwardly turned eye at the free terminal end of the second lateral leg, whereby, said first lateral leg, vertical leg, second lateral leg and eye define an integral open loop structure lying in a plane normal to the axis of the wire arm support with its opening at the lower end of the arm support, the loop serving to receive therein a rolling hoop to be guided thereby with said second lateral leg underlying the inside circumference of the hoop and the eye thereon serving to prevent the hoop from moving off of said second lateral leg when the latter engages said hoop, and directional movement of the hoop being effected by selected movement of the handle to cause selected engagement of a part of the loop structure with the hoop.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 780,945 1/1905 Fenton 46--22O 1,574,255 2/1926 Myslinski 46- 220 2,979,860 4/1961 Barta 46-220 3,060,636 10/1962 Aquino 46220 LOUIS G. MANCENE, Primary Examiner 

